Captain McLane having informed me that he and some of the Officers who acted under him have had suits brought against them for the seizure of Horses and sundry Articles of provisions near the lines of the Enemy while they had possession of this City.

I think it but Justice as well as my duty to declare that from the Month of November 1777 untill the evacuation of this City in June following Capt. McLane commanded a Body of Light Troops upon the Lines and that his Orders particularly were to stop all improper intercourse between the City and County and to seize supplies of every kind going from the Country to the City, in doing which, I was not only authorised by the usage and custom of War but by virtue of Resolves of Congress passed specially for that purpose—And I do further certify that to the best of my knowledge Capt. McLane made no improper use of the powers with which he was vested but confined his seizures intirely to the objects of his Commission. Given under my Hand at Philadelphia the 5th of March 1782.